The United States has declared it will temporarily oversee Venezuela’s political transition following a surprise overnight operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. declared it will “run” Venezuela during an interim period to ensure what President Donald Trump described as a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power.

The announcement came after U.S. forces launched overnight strikes on Caracas and other cities on Saturday, disabling air defence systems and raiding President Nicolás Maduro’s compound.

U.S. officials said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, surrendered and were flown out of the country within hours. They are expected to face drug trafficking and weapons charges in New York.

President Trump later shared images on Truth Social that appear to show him and senior U.S. officials watching the strikes and monitoring the operation that led to Maduro’s capture.

Trump said U.S. companies would enter Venezuela to rebuild the country’s damaged oil infrastructure and restart production. He added the U.S. is prepared to carry out a second attack if necessary and did not rule out U.S. troops remaining on the ground.

The White House said discussions are under way on interim governance, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump indicated cooperation with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, though there has been no confirmation from Venezuelan media.

Reactions inside Venezuela were mixed, with some residents welcoming the move as a chance for change, while others warned it could deepen instability. International critics questioned the legality of the operation, calling it a violation of international law.

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